Dame Kiri to perform at Her Majesty’s

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will perform in Ballarat on 30 October where the internationally acclaimed opera singer first won the Herald Sun Aria in 1966 at Royal South Street. Dame Kiri became Patron for South Street in 2006. Tickets are available at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

“The city holds special memories for me. It was there that I won the Herald Sun Aria in 1966, and this was a big influence on my decision to travel to the UK for extended study at the London Opera Centre which provided opportunities to launch my career.”

The Herald Sun Aria

Widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious competition for emerging opera singers, the Herald Sun Aria offers over $60,000 in cash prizes and scholarships to enrich the training of our brightest talent.

Did You Know?

Let the Competitions Begin....

In June, 1891 Ballarat saw the event of the year, the first South Street Society Competitions. 260 entrants competed for a moderate prize of 60 guineas (sixty pounds, 60 shillings). Literary, Elocution and Musical items were listed. The Essay competition on “The Most Urgent Social Reforms” was won by Robert Baird, and essays on “The Nobility of Labor: and “Recreation” were both won by Andrew Baird. Fittingly, Baird and McGregor are this year's 125 Celebration Great Debate sponsors. In the Impromptu Speech, Dugald McLachan was successful with the title “Deakin on Federation.” The Competitions ran for 10 days, and was hailed as an overwhelming success.